Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley Predictions

• Both teams have scored in eight of Burnley’s last nine games
• Just two of Tottenham’s 17 home league matches this season have featured fewer than three goals
• Spurs have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last 18 league games

Victory vital for two different reasons

Both of these teams face a potential crisis of differing levels and three points will be considered vital for both Tottenham and Burnley in north London on Saturday.

The Clarets’ need is more desperate as failure to win will ensure that they make an immediate return to the Championship after a crushing 4-1 home loss to Newcastle last week sent their potential safety bid careering off course.

It really is now or never if they are going to go into the final week with a chance and they will take heart from the fact Tottenham’s season has also gone careering over a cliff.

Spurs have shown little in straight defeats to the Magpies, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, conceding a total of 13 goals, and with their hopes of a top-four finish seemingly extinguished, they are grimly holding on the a Europa League spot.

Tottenham’s attacking quality may come to the fore

A recovery from Spurs does look likely, judging by the standard of the opposition they have faced in their last few games and Ange Postecoglou’s team can be relied upon to go on the front foot and create plenty of chances.

However, a combination of their woeful recent defending and Burnley’s need for points means the Clarets should put on plenty of pressure and can score.

Both teams have found the net in all but one of the last nine games Vincent Kompany’s team have played as they have rallied, perhaps too little, too late.

Clean sheets are rare for Tottenham, even when they are playing at home and Burnley demonstrated how they can trouble a shaky backline when they earned a 1-1 draw at Manchester United a fortnight ago.

But Tottenham have the strength at the other end of the pitch to outshoot their Lancastrian visitors, so while they may concede, a home victory looks the most likely scenario and a 3-1 win, like the one they recently claimed against Nottingham Forest, could be of interest to correct-score punters.

Richarlison could make his mark

Postecoglou has been showing his frustration at recent results and changes to his Tottenham team seem likely.

While defensive issues are perhaps more pressing, that could see Richarlison given a start against the Clarets and the Brazilian, who has netted 11 times in the Premier League this season, could take advantage of his chance to shine.

The former Everton forward scored in the 4-2 defeat at Liverpool and set-up the other goal for Heung Min-Son, and he could find the net again if he is given an opportunity from the off.